Code:517
Worth the cost and effort to grow this rare plant
Family: Bromeliaceae
Plant Classification: Hardy perennial
Minimum Height: 90 cm
Maximum Height: 1.2 meters
Puyas are perhaps the hardiest member of the pineapple family, making sensational rosettes of serrated leaves. Spikes of exotic blue-green flowers when mature. Plant in a wall or bank. “Worth the cost and effort to grow this rare plant.” (G.S.T.). This stunning Pineapple relative sends up a 2-4-foot flower cluster that is like a Dr. Suess version of a tiki torch! This easy-to-grow Bromeliad is hardy down to about 20 degrees F! This is a very rare plant that you are not likely to find at nurseries. The leaves have spines, so move carefully around the plant. In late spring and summer, the plant sends up a dramatic pink stalk with silky blue flowers and contrasting orange anthers. There is another form of this species with sparse clusters and darker, less noticeable flowers, however this variety has vibrant blue petals and tightly packed clusters.
Sowing advice:
Seeds can be sown at any time but are best sown in winter or early spring to benefit from a cold spell in the wet compost to break their dormancy. We advise covering seeds very thinly with sand or fine grit to about the depth of the seed size. If the seeds do not come up within 6 to 12 weeks the damp seed tray can be given cold treatment in a fridge for about four weeks. They may still take very many months to appear, so please never discard the pot or tray.
Habitat according to altitude:
Low altitude, interior valleys
Light conditions:
Fully exposed to the sun. Level areas or slopes facing north.
This species has the following hardiness:
USDA Hardiness Zone 9. The plant does not tolerate snow, but can tolerate occasional freezing spells of about – 5° C .
